It's Not The Amount, But The Priority

Then the leaders of the tribe of Levi came to consult with Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the other tribes of Israel. They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.” So by the command of the LORD the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land. [Joshua 21.1-3] 

Following yesterday's article, What A Man Possesses vs. What Possesses A Man, it is noteworthy to consider today that the Levites were not without possessions; at least, not without livestock and houses.

Let's fast-forward this principle to modern Christianity in light of the following passage again:

He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. [Revelation 1.6]

What we must understand is that God neither intended that ancient Levites nor modern Christ-followers (as priests) be a burden upon their respective societies as much as a blessing. The thing is, to be a blessing, the Levites could not be encumbered with great possessions distracting them from the work of ministry assigned to them. A dwelling and some livestock were the most basic of necessities for the Levites. Beyond that, their potential for distraction greatly increased.

Armed with this knowledge, we can safely conclude that, as priests in God's Kingdom, God has no intention for us to do without basic necessities, but instead, that we simply not become controlled by those possessions. There is a difference.

At the point a person's possessions determine his or her steps, possessions have become that person's master. It takes honest introspect for any person to make this determination, whether he or she possesses much or little. A person is enslaved not by the amount of his or her possessions, but by the priority those possessions are given in their life.

If God is Provider to one, God is Provider to all. This includes those who serve in ministry past and present. However, the true servant of God makes no allowance for encumbrances that limit their service in ministry. It's not a possessions-issue, but a heart-issue.

Father, please help all who identify with You in Christ to understand that Your call to salvation is a call to service. May all who serve You avoid slavery to possessions, whether many or few, so that service to You and to all mankind is unencumbered with distractions. So be it.